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CHAPTER XVII. A MYSTERIOUS ADVENTURE.
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 Several weeks passed without changing in any way the position or employment of Dodger1 or Florence.
 
They had settled down to their respective forms of labor2, and were able not only to pay their modest expenses, but to save up something for a rainy day.
 
Florence had but one source of regret.
 
She enjoyed her work, and did not now lament3 the luxurious4 home which she had lost.
 
But she did feel sore at heart that her uncle made no sign of regret for their separation.
 
From him she received no message of forgiveness or reconciliation5.
 
“He has forgotten me!” she said to herself, bitterly. “He has cast me utterly6 out of his heart. I do not care for his money, but I do not like to think that my kind uncle—for he was always kind till the last trouble—has steeled his heart against me forever.”
 
But she learned through a chance meeting with Jane, that this was not so.
 
“Mr. Linden is getting very nervous and low-spirited,” said the girl, “and sits hour after hour in the library looking into the fire, a-fotchin’ deep sighs every few minutes. Once I saw him with your photograph—the one you had taken last spring—in his hands, and he looked sad-like when he laid it down.”
 
“My dear uncle! Then he does think of me sometimes?”
 
“It’s my belief he’d send for you if Curtis would let him.”
 
“Surely Curtis cannot exercise any restraint upon him?”
 
“He has frequent talks with the old gentleman. I don’t know what he says, but it’s sure to be something wicked. I expect he does all he can to set him against you. Oh, he’s a cunning villain7, he is, even if he is your cousin, Miss Florence.”
 
“And do you think my uncle is unhappy, Jane?” said Florence, thoughtfully.
 
“That I do, miss.”
 
“He never was very bright or cheerful, you know.”
 
“But he never was like this. And I do think he’s gettin’ more and more feeble.”
 
“Do you think I ought to call upon him, and risk his sending me away?”
 
“It might be worth tryin’, Miss Florence.”
 
The result of this conversation was that Florence did make up her mind the very next afternoon to seek her old home. She had just reached the front steps, and was about to ascend8, when the door opened and Curtis appeared.
 
He started at sight of his cousin.
 
“Florence!” he said. “Tell me why you came here?”
 
“I am anxious about my uncle,” she said. “Tell me, Curtis, how he is.”
 
“You know he’s never in vigorous health,” said Curtis, evasively.
 
“But is he as well as usual?”
 
“He is about the same as ever. One thing would do more for him than anything else.”
 
“What’s that?”
 
“Your agreement to marry me,” and he fixed9 his eyes upon her face eagerly.
 
Florence shook her head.
 
“I should be glad to help my uncle,” she said, “but I cannot agree to marry you.”
 
“Why not?” he demanded, roughly.
 
“Because I do not love you, and never shall,” she responded, firmly.
 
“In other words, you refuse to do the only thing that will restore our uncle to health and happiness?”
 
“It is too much to ask.” Then, fixing her eyes upon him keenly: “Why should uncle insist upon this marriage? Is it not because you have influenced him in the matter?”
 
“No,” answered Curtis, falsely. “He has some secret reason, which he will not disclose to me, for desiring it.”
 
Florence had learned to distrust the words of her wily cousin.
 
“May I not see him?” she asked. “Perhaps he will tell me.”
 
“No; I cannot permit it.”
 
“You cannot permit it? Are you, then, our uncle’s guardian10?”
 
“No, and yes. I do not seek to control him, but I wish to save him from serious agitation11. Should he see you, and find that you are still rebellious12, the shock might kill him.”
 
“I have reason to doubt your words,” said Florence, coldly. “I think you are resolved to keep us apart.”
 
“Listen, and I will tell you a secret; Uncle John has heart disease, so the doctor assures me. Any unwonted agitation might kill him instantly. I am sure you would not like to expose him to such a risk.”
 
He spoke13 with apparent sincerity14, but Florence did not feel certain that his words were truthful15.
 
“Very well,” she said. “Then I will give up seeing him.”
 
“It is best, unless you are ready to accede16 to his wishes—and mine.”
 
She did not answer, but walked away slowly.
 
“It would never do to have them meet!” muttered Curtis. “The old gentleman would ask her to come back on any terms, and then all my scheming would be upset. That was a happy invention of mine, about heart disease,” he continued, with a low laugh. “Though she only half believed it, she will not dare to run the risk of giving him a shock.”
 
It was about this time that the quiet tenor17 of Dodger’s life was interrupted by a startling event.
 
He still continued to visit the piers18, and one afternoon about six o’clock, he stood on the pier19 awaiting the arrival of the day boat from Albany, with a small supply of evening papers under his arm.
 
He had sold all but half a dozen when the boat touched the pier. He stood watching the various passengers as they left the boat and turned their steps in different directions, when some one touched him on the shoulder.
 
Looking up, he saw standing20 at his side a man of slender figure, with gray hair and whiskers.
 
“Boy,” he said, “I am a stranger in the city. Can I ask your assistance?”
 
“Yes, sir; certainly,” answered Dodger, briskly.
 
“Do you know where the nearest station of the elevated road is?”
 
“Yes, sir?”
 
“I want to go uptown, but I know very little about the city. Will you accompany me as guide? I will pay you well.”
 
“All right, sir,” answered Dodger.
 
It was just the job he was seeking.
 
“We will have to walk a few blocks, unless you want to take a carriage.”
 
“It isn’t necessary. I am strong, in spite of my gray hair.”
 
And indeed he appeared to be.
 
Dodger noticed that he walked with the elastic21 step of a young man, while his face certainly showed no trace of wrinkles.
 
“I live in the West,” said the stranger, as they walked along. “I have not been here for ten years.”
 
“Then you have never ridden on the elevated road?” said Dodger.
 
“N-no,” answered the stranger, with curious hesitation22.
 
Yet when they reached the station he went up the staircase and purchased his ticket with the air of a man who was thoroughly23 accustomed to doing it.
 
“I suppose you don’t want me any longer,” said Dodger, preparing to resign the valise he was carrying, and which, by the way, was remarkably24 light considering the size.
 
“Yes, I shall need you,” said the other hurriedly. “There may be some distance to walk after we get uptown.”
 
“All right, sir.”
 
Dodger was glad that further service was required, for this would of course increase the compensation which he would feel entitled to ask.
 
They entered one of the cars, and sat down side by side.
 
The old gentleman drew a paper from his pocket, and began to read, while Dodger, left to his own devices, sat quiet and looked about him.
 
He was rather surprised that the old gentleman, who, according to his own representation, was riding upon the elevated road for the first time, seemed to feel no curiosity on the subject, but conducted himself in all respects like an experienced traveler.
 
“He’s a queer customer!” thought Dodger. “However, it’s all one to me, as long as he pays me well for the job.”
 
They got out at One Hundred and Twenty-fifth Street, and struck down toward the river, Dodger carrying the valise.
 
“I wonder where we’re going?” he asked himself.
 
At length they reached a wooden house of three stories, standing by itself, and here the stranger stopped.
 
He rang the bell, and the door was opened by a hump-backed negro, who looked curiously25 at Dodger.
 
“Is the room ready, Julius?” asked the old man.
 
“Yes, sir.”
 
“Boy, take the valise upstairs, and I will follow you.”
 
Up two flights of stairs walked Dodger, followed by the old man and the negro.
 
The latter opened the door of a back room, and Dodger, obedient to directions, took the valise inside and deposited it on a chair.
 
He had hardly done so when the door closed behind him, and he heard the slipping of a bolt.
 
“What does all this mean?” Dodger asked himself in amazement26.

点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 dodger Ku9z0c     
n.躲避者;躲闪者;广告单
参考例句:
  • They are tax dodgers who hide their interest earnings.他们是隐瞒利息收入的逃税者。
  • Make sure she pays her share she's a bit of a dodger.她自己的一份一定要她付清--她可是有点能赖就赖。
2 labor P9Tzs     
n.劳动,努力,工作,劳工;分娩;vi.劳动,努力,苦干;vt.详细分析;麻烦
参考例句:
  • We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
  • He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后,他已经疲惫不堪了。
3 lament u91zi     
n.悲叹,悔恨,恸哭;v.哀悼,悔恨,悲叹
参考例句:
  • Her face showed lament.她的脸上露出悲伤的样子。
  • We lament the dead.我们哀悼死者。
4 luxurious S2pyv     
adj.精美而昂贵的;豪华的
参考例句:
  • This is a luxurious car complete with air conditioning and telephone.这是一辆附有空调设备和电话的豪华轿车。
  • The rich man lives in luxurious surroundings.这位富人生活在奢侈的环境中。
5 reconciliation DUhxh     
n.和解,和谐,一致
参考例句:
  • He was taken up with the reconciliation of husband and wife.他忙于做夫妻间的调解工作。
  • Their handshake appeared to be a gesture of reconciliation.他们的握手似乎是和解的表示。
6 utterly ZfpzM1     
adv.完全地,绝对地
参考例句:
  • Utterly devoted to the people,he gave his life in saving his patients.他忠于人民,把毕生精力用于挽救患者的生命。
  • I was utterly ravished by the way she smiled.她的微笑使我完全陶醉了。
7 villain ZL1zA     
n.反派演员,反面人物;恶棍;问题的起因
参考例句:
  • He was cast as the villain in the play.他在戏里扮演反面角色。
  • The man who played the villain acted very well.扮演恶棍的那个男演员演得很好。
8 ascend avnzD     
vi.渐渐上升,升高;vt.攀登,登上
参考例句:
  • We watched the airplane ascend higher and higher.我们看着飞机逐渐升高。
  • We ascend in the order of time and of development.我们按时间和发展顺序向上溯。
9 fixed JsKzzj     
adj.固定的,不变的,准备好的;(计算机)固定的
参考例句:
  • Have you two fixed on a date for the wedding yet?你们俩选定婚期了吗?
  • Once the aim is fixed,we should not change it arbitrarily.目标一旦确定,我们就不应该随意改变。
10 guardian 8ekxv     
n.监护人;守卫者,保护者
参考例句:
  • The form must be signed by the child's parents or guardian. 这张表格须由孩子的家长或监护人签字。
  • The press is a guardian of the public weal. 报刊是公共福利的卫护者。
11 agitation TN0zi     
n.搅动;搅拌;鼓动,煽动
参考例句:
  • Small shopkeepers carried on a long agitation against the big department stores.小店主们长期以来一直在煽动人们反对大型百货商店。
  • These materials require constant agitation to keep them in suspension.这些药剂要经常搅动以保持悬浮状态。
12 rebellious CtbyI     
adj.造反的,反抗的,难控制的
参考例句:
  • They will be in danger if they are rebellious.如果他们造反,他们就要发生危险。
  • Her reply was mild enough,but her thoughts were rebellious.她的回答虽然很温和,但她的心里十分反感。
13 spoke XryyC     
n.(车轮的)辐条;轮辐;破坏某人的计划;阻挠某人的行动 v.讲,谈(speak的过去式);说;演说;从某种观点来说
参考例句:
  • They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
  • The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
14 sincerity zyZwY     
n.真诚,诚意;真实
参考例句:
  • His sincerity added much more authority to the story.他的真诚更增加了故事的说服力。
  • He tried hard to satisfy me of his sincerity.他竭力让我了解他的诚意。
15 truthful OmpwN     
adj.真实的,说实话的,诚实的
参考例句:
  • You can count on him for a truthful report of the accident.你放心,他会对事故作出如实的报告的。
  • I don't think you are being entirely truthful.我认为你并没全讲真话。
16 accede Gf8yd     
v.应允,同意
参考例句:
  • They are ready to accede to our request for further information.我们要是还需要资料,他们乐于随时提供。
  • In a word,he will not accede to your proposal in the meeting.总而言之,他不会在会中赞成你的提议。
17 tenor LIxza     
n.男高音(歌手),次中音(乐器),要旨,大意
参考例句:
  • The tenor of his speech was that war would come.他讲话的大意是战争将要发生。
  • The four parts in singing are soprano,alto,tenor and bass.唱歌的四个声部是女高音、女低音、男高音和男低音。
18 piers 97df53049c0dee20e54484371e5e225c     
n.水上平台( pier的名词复数 );(常设有娱乐场所的)突堤;柱子;墙墩
参考例句:
  • Most road bridges have piers rising out of the vally. 很多公路桥的桥墩是从河谷里建造起来的。 来自辞典例句
  • At these piers coasters and landing-craft would be able to discharge at all states of tide. 沿岸航行的海船和登陆艇,不论潮汐如何涨落,都能在这种码头上卸载。 来自辞典例句
19 pier U22zk     
n.码头;桥墩,桥柱;[建]窗间壁,支柱
参考例句:
  • The pier of the bridge has been so badly damaged that experts worry it is unable to bear weight.这座桥的桥桩破损厉害,专家担心它已不能负重。
  • The ship was making towards the pier.船正驶向码头。
20 standing 2hCzgo     
n.持续,地位;adj.永久的,不动的,直立的,不流动的
参考例句:
  • After the earthquake only a few houses were left standing.地震过后只有几幢房屋还立着。
  • They're standing out against any change in the law.他们坚决反对对法律做任何修改。
21 elastic Tjbzq     
n.橡皮圈,松紧带;adj.有弹性的;灵活的
参考例句:
  • Rubber is an elastic material.橡胶是一种弹性材料。
  • These regulations are elastic.这些规定是有弹性的。
22 hesitation tdsz5     
n.犹豫,踌躇
参考例句:
  • After a long hesitation, he told the truth at last.踌躇了半天,他终于直说了。
  • There was a certain hesitation in her manner.她的态度有些犹豫不决。
23 thoroughly sgmz0J     
adv.完全地,彻底地,十足地
参考例句:
  • The soil must be thoroughly turned over before planting.一定要先把土地深翻一遍再下种。
  • The soldiers have been thoroughly instructed in the care of their weapons.士兵们都系统地接受过保护武器的训练。
24 remarkably EkPzTW     
ad.不同寻常地,相当地
参考例句:
  • I thought she was remarkably restrained in the circumstances. 我认为她在那种情况下非常克制。
  • He made a remarkably swift recovery. 他康复得相当快。
25 curiously 3v0zIc     
adv.有求知欲地;好问地;奇特地
参考例句:
  • He looked curiously at the people.他好奇地看着那些人。
  • He took long stealthy strides. His hands were curiously cold.他迈着悄没声息的大步。他的双手出奇地冷。
26 amazement 7zlzBK     
n.惊奇,惊讶
参考例句:
  • All those around him looked at him with amazement.周围的人都对他投射出惊异的眼光。
  • He looked at me in blank amazement.他带着迷茫惊诧的神情望着我。


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